Ola Aina is an English-born Nigerian defender who is of Yoruba origin. In this article, you will explore his bio, net worth, career records and salary.
You will also get to learn about his wife, brother, honours, children and parents.
Ola Aina Biography
Born in England with the full name Temitayo Olufisayo Olaoluwa Aina on 8 October 1996, is a professional footballer who plays as a wing-back or right-back for Premier League club Nottingham Forest, and the Nigeria national team, the Super Eagles.
Ola Aina club career and stats
Early years at Chelsea (2015-2019)
Ola Aina began his football career when he signed for Chelsea's U-11 side where he went on to make his youth team debut as a schoolboy in the 2012/13 season.
He made progress and went on to play in both legs of the semi-final and final of the FA Youth Cup.
Young Ola Aina in his youth career has also represented Chelsea in the U-18s, U-19s, and U-21 levels.
On 19 July 2014, Aina made his first-team debut in a pre-season friendly against AFC Wimbledon, after Todd Kane's injury.
Aina started the match and was substituted at half-time for Branislav Ivanović as Chelsea went on to win 3-2 on the day.
Aina impressed the coach of Chelsea at the time, Jose Mourinho, in the 2015/16 pre-season where he played three matches.
His performances earned him an inclusion into the first team squad for the new season.
The defender spent all of the 2015/16 season training full-time with the first team, he continued his role in the U-21s and U-19s teams.
On 23 September 2015, Aina was included in the match-day squad for a game against Walsall in the fourth round of the League Cup, but was an unused substitute.
The lack of first team opportunities prompted Aina to refuse signing a new contract even though his current contract ended at the end of that campaign.
On 6 July 2016, he signed a new four-year deal to quash the rumours of him leaving the Blues.
After signing a new contract, Aina was included in the travelling squad to Austria and the United States. He went on to play in all six pre-season matches.
On 23 August 2016, Aina was given his professional debut by manager Antonio Conte in a 3-2 victory over Bristol Rovers in the EFL Cup.
Finally, his Premier League debut came on 15 October 2016, in a 3-0 win over reigning champions Leicester City, replacing his fellow countryman Victor Moses 8 minutes from time. In all, he made 3 appearances for Chelsea.
Hull City (2017-2018)
Ola joined Championship side, Hull City, on loan to get playing time on 11 July 2017. He made his debut on the opening day of the season, 5 August 2017, away to Aston Villa in a 1-1 draw.
Aina scored the only goal in a 1-0 defeat of Blackburn Rovers in the third-round of the FA Cup for Hull City on 6 January 2018.
At the end of his one-season loan spell, he featured 44 times for the Tigers.
Torino (2018-2020)
At the end of the 2017/18 season, Ola Aina returned back to Chelsea and was again loaned out, this time to Torino on 14 August 2018.
He made his Serie A debut a couple of days later in Torino's 0-1 opening day defeat at home to Roma, coming on as a substitute in place of fellow right-back Lorenzo De Silvestri who went off injured after just 25 minutes.
Aina scored his first goal for Torino in a match against Udinese on 2 February 2019. His stats at Torino read 30 Serie A appearances in what was a strong season for Il Toro, whose seventh-place finish secured a Europa League qualifying spot.
His performances earned him a move to the Italian side as Torino triggered the option to permanently transfer him from Chelsea for a reported fee of £9 million on 11 June 2019.
He was a regular again during his second season in Turin, playing 37 times in all competitions.
But unfortunately for him, his loaning spells weren't over as he again went on another loan back to the Premier League.
Fulham (2020-2021)
The English-born Nigerian defender returned to the Premier League, signing for Fulham on an initial season-long loan with an option to make the deal permanent on 11 September 2020.
Aina scored his first goal for the club, and in the Premier League, in a 2-0 home win over West Brom shooting into the top-left corner from outside the penalty area on 2 November; a goal so brilliant that earned selection as the goal of the month by the Premier League.
Aina etched his name in the history books of Fulham as he became the third player to win the Budweiser Goal of the Month award, after Jean Michaël Seri and André Schürrle, who both won the prize in the 2018/19 campaign.
His stats at Fulham read 31 appearances and 2 goals.
Nottingham Forest (2023-present)
Following his release from Torino as his loan spell with Fulham ended, Ola Aina completed a one-year deal with Nottingham Forest on 22 July 2023, joining forces with fellow Nigerian Taiwo Awoniyi.
He made his debut for the Tricky Trees on 12 August in a 2-1 loss against Arsenal in the 2023/24 opening league campaign.
Ola Aina international career and stats
England
Born on English soil, Aina represented England at U-16, U-17, U-18, U-19 and U-20 level before switching allegiance to Nigeria.
Nigeria
Following discussions with then Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) president Amaju Pinnick, Ola Aina in May 2017 pledged his international future to Nigeria and obtained a Nigerian passport in preparation to making the switch from England to Nigeria.
In the same month, he was called up for the first time to play for Nigeria.
The next year, May 2018, he was named in Nigeria's preliminary 30-man squad for the 2018 World Cup in Russia.
However, he did not make the final 23 man list. He was later recalled into the squad and played a major role in the Super Eagles qualification for the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations that was held in Egypt.
He played the first match against tournament debutant Burundi, and assisted the only goal of the match.
On 25 December 2021, He was shortlisted in 2021 AFCON Nations Cup by Caretaker Coach Eguavoen as part of the 28-Man Nigeria Squad, a tournament that Nigeria fell off after the group stage.
Ola Aina has so far represented Nigeria in 30 occasions and is yet to register his first goal for the Super Eagles.
Ola Aina achievements
Club
Chelsea Youth
- Barclays U21 Premier League: 2013/14
- FA Youth Cup: 2013/14, 2014/15
- UEFA Youth League: 2014/15, 2015/16
Personal
- Premier League Goal of the Month: November 2020
Ola Aina salary
Ola Aina earns a weekly salary of £40,000 as a Nottingham Forest player. This means he earns an annual salary of £2,080,000.
Ola Aina net worth
The Super Eagles defender has a net worth of $5 million in 2023. He's one of the richest Nigerian footballers in England.
Ola Aina wife and children
Ola Aina is not married but he has a girlfriend whose name is Belky Wara. The couple have been together for a while now and have no children as of 2023.
Ola Aina family
His parents are Mr. and Mrs Olufemi Aina. From the name, his parents come from the Yoruba tribe of Nigeria, one of the major ethnic groups in the country.
Reports say that his father Olufemi Aina was key to his son's career, as his support and motivation spurred Ola Aina into turning into a professional footballer. Ola Aina has a brother named Jordan Aina who is also a footballer.
This article was most recently revised and updated 1 month ago
